A petting zoo is being investigated after volunteers claimed they found the animals living in 'rancid' conditions.

Charlotte Lawson, 26, and Rita Badia, 28, volunteered at the park for five days last week but were so shocked at the state of the site in Black Isle Country Park, in North Kessock, Scotland, that they quit.

They took pictures and video of what they say were dead animals strewn around in filthy conditions.

The volunteers described the petting zoo at as an 'abandoned prison' and have submitted their evidence to the local authorities.

They have also set up an online petition to have the park closed down.

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Rabbits living in filthy cages in a photo that is alleged to have been taken at Black Isle Country Park

A photograph of a dead rabbit taken by Charlotte Lawson and Rita Badia

Black Isle Wildlife Park in North Kessock, is being investigated after the claims were made

Their concerns have prompted Highland Council to launch an investigation.

This comes less than one year after the authority closed down the wildlife park's zoo due to animal welfare concerns.

The site was then granted a new licence to open again as a petting zoo.

The country park, also known as Black Isle Wildlife Park and Noah's Ark Animal Park, is owned and run by Eric and Maureen Maxwell.

The two volunteers said the animals including rabbits and llamas are not being fed, watered or cleaned out.

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The park's management has refuted the claims and has said the rabbits were killed by a disease that spread when Miss Lawson and Ms Badia allegedly introduced wild rabbits into the enclosure.

The two women, who are from London, want all of the animals at the park relocated. Their online petition has already had more than 500 signatures.

'No-one should suffer and have to live in these conditions, especially confined animals who rely on us to meet their basic needs,' Miss Lawson said. 'The park is the most horrifying place I've ever visited, let alone volunteered at, and we have seen what horrors lie behind closed doors.

'One week of volunteering was enough to see that the Black Isle Wildlife Park is nothing but an abandoned prison for domestic animals.'

Miss Lawson and Ms Badia said the animals, including rabbits and llamas, are not being fed, watered or cleaned out

The park's managers have said some of their rabbits had died after wild rabbits were introduced to their enclosure

The volunteers described the petting zoo as an 'abandoned prison for animals'

Miss Lawson added that the llama enclosure was 'so rancid I threw up'.

The volunteers were particularly distressed at the conditions of the rabbits, of which several have had to be put down during their brief time at the park.

A copy of a letter from a vet stated that, on three consecutive days last week, three rabbits were brought in and found to be in poor body condition, dehydrated and collapsed.

All three had to be euthanised as a result of their condition, with Miss Lawson paying the bill herself

The volunteers said they did all they could to help the animals during their time at the park.

The petting zoo has a selection of domestic animals including rabbits, pigs, goats and alpacas.

Rubbish piled high: The volunteers said they did all they could to help the animals during their time at the park

Picture shows a filthy environment with animal feces piled inches high which was allegedly taken at the park

When approached for comment, manager Alison Gallagher said that the care of the animals remains of the utmost priority and questioned the backgrounds of Miss Lawson and Miss Badia.

She said: 'We have had the vets out in the last two days and every animal has been treated. We have been given a clean bill of health.

'We have lost some rabbits, yes. We had two girls here who said they had animal health qualifications. They found two nests of wild rabbits in an area of the park which is closed to the public. They put them in boxes and put them in with our domestic rabbits.

'I am so annoyed. If they had animal health qualifications they would have known you do not mix wild rabbits with domestic ones. The wild ones passed disease on to our domestic ones.

'The welfare of our animals is our number one priority.'

Scottish SPCA senior inspector Dougie Campbell said the charity went to the wildlife park last week and issued advice to the owners.

A spokeswoman for the local authority said: 'The council has been made aware of the concerns of two people regarding animal welfare at the park. The issues raised will be thoroughly investigated by environmental health.'